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Metabolic and proteomic responses of sorghum cell cultures to polyethylene glycol-induced osmotic stress
(University of the Free State, 2022)Climate change, population growth, and the emerging water crisis are negatively affecting agricultural productivity and, thus, food security. Climate change results in drought, which is a major osmotic stress. Osmotic ... -
Physiological, biochemical and root proteome responses of maize seedlings to drought stress
(University of the Free State, 2022)A primary limiting factor for maize during its growing period is drought stress. With the decrease in yield and biomass triggered by drought stress in maize, drought has become a critical issue that must be considered due ... -
Heterosis and combining ability of iron, zinc and their bioavailability in maize inbred lines under low nitrogen and optimal environments
(Cell Press, 2023)Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) nutrient enrichment of staple crops through biofortification can contribute to alleviating micronutrient deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa. A line × tester mating design was used to determine the ... -
Combining ability estimates for quality and non-quality protein maize inbred lines for grain yield, agronomic, and quality traits
(Frontiers, 2023)Introduction: Biofortified maize varieties could contribute to the fight against hunger and malnutrition of the increasing human population and help meet the high demand of maize for human consumption, industrial use and ... -
The effect of selenium foliar application on the physiological responses of edamame under different water treatments
(MDPI, 2022)Drought has devastating effects on crops, posing enormous risks to food security. This study investigated the impact of foliar applied selenium [at four concentrations (25, 50 and 75 mg/L)] on the photosynthesis capacity, ... -
Ecology and conservation status of six medicinal plants commonly used to treat diabetes in the eastern Free State, South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2013-12)Diabetes mellitus is a global disease with an extreme effect on the quality of life of the patients and it is increasing among South Africans. South African population is predominantly black and medicinal plants represent ... -
Breeding of vegetable cowpea for nutrition and climate resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa: progress, opportunities, and challenges
(MDPI, 2022)Currently, the world population is increasing, and humanity is facing food and nutritional scarcity. Climate change and variability are a major threat to global food and nutritional security, reducing crop productivity in ... -
Expression of nutritional traits in vegetable cowpea grown under various South African agro-ecological conditions
(MDPI, 2022)Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), a traditional legume food crop indigenous to Africa, has potential as both a vegetable and grain crop in contributing to dietary diversity to support health and address malnutrition, especially ... -
Unraveling synergism between various GH family xylanases and deb ranching enzymes during hetero-xylan degradation
(MDPI, 2021)Enzymes classified with the same Enzyme Commission (EC) that are allotted in different glycoside hydrolase (GH) families can display different mechanisms of action and substrate specificities. Therefore, the combination ... -
Biological and pharmacological activities of root extracts and isolated compounds of hermann/a geniculata Adeniran
(University of the Free State, 2017)Hermannia geniculala is of the genus of flowering plant from the subfamily Byttnerioideae in the family Malnaceae. H. geniculata has been used in treatment of several diseases like colic, diabetes mellitus and other oxidative ... -
Drought tolerance responses in vegetable-type soybean involve a network of biochemical mechanisms at flowering and pod-filling stages
(MDPI, 2021)Severe drought stress affects the production of vegetable-type soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill), which is in infancy for Africa despite its huge nutritional benefits. This study was conducted under controlled environmental ... -
Solvent retention capacity and gluten protein composition of durum wheat flour as influenced by drought and heat stress
(MDPI, 2021)Drought and temperature stress can cause considerable gluten protein accumulation changes during grain-filling, resulting in variations in wheat quality. The contribution of functional polymeric components of flour to its ... -
Salicylic acid improves growth and physiological attributes and salt tolerance differentially in two bread wheat cultivars
(MDPI, 2022)Abiotic constraints such as salinity stress reduce cereal production. Salicylic acid is an elicitor of abiotic stress tolerance in plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of salicylic acid on two bread ... -
Identifying quality protein maize inbred lines for improved nutritional value of maize in Southern Africa
(MDPI, 2022)Malnutrition, as a result of deficiency in essential nutrients in cereal food products and consumption of a poorly balanced diet, is a major challenge facing millions of people in developing countries. However, developing ... -
The photosynthetic efficiency and carbohydrates responses of six edamame (Glycine max. L. Merrill) cultivars under drought stress
(MDPI, 2022)Vegetable-type soybean, also known as edamame, was recently introduced to South Africa. However, there is lack of information on its responses to drought. The aim of this study was to investigate the photosynthetic efficiency ... -
Defining the frontiers of synergism between cellulolytic enzymes for improved hydrolysis of lignocellulosic feedstocks
(MDPI, 2021)Lignocellulose has economic potential as a bio-resource for the production of value-added products (VAPs) and biofuels. The commercialization of biofuels and VAPs requires efficient enzyme cocktail activities that can lower ... -
Fusarium casha sp. nov. and F. curculicola sp. nov. in the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex isolated from Amaranthus cruentus and three weevil species in South Africa
(MDPI, 2021)Trials are currently being conducted in South Africa to establish Amaranthus cruentus as a new pseudocereal crop. During recent surveys, Fusarium species were associated with weevil damage in A. cruentus fields. Preliminary ... -
Inoculation techniques and evaluation methodologies for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum head and stem rot in sunflower and soybean
(University of the Free State, 2018-01)Sclerotinia stem and head rot on soybean and sunflower are caused by the fungal plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This pathogen can be responsible for up to 75.0% yield loss. A major constraint in the effective ... -
Genetic variability of carotenoids and polypoid induction towards vitamin A biofortification in plantain (Musa spp.)
(University of the Free State, 2018-07)Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is one of the most prevalent nutrient deficiencies affecting the health of resource-poor populations in developing countries. Plantains (Musa spp. AAB) are a specific group of bananas, which serve ... -
Characterisation of the physiological, biochemical and molecular responses of sorghum to drought stress
(University of the Free State, 2018-11)Drought is a major threat to global food security due to its detrimental effects on plant growth, productivity and yield quality. Many climatic models are predicting the increasing duration and severity of drought episodes. ...
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